The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-07
of Virginia to the Pennsylvania welcome,

of Virginia to the Pennsylvania welcome,
said:
"Not only do we receive, and shall ever
treasure, the noble sentiments of Colonel
Mcclure as the voice of Pennsyl-
vania and her chief city, bat also
of those brave men who met us
here twenty-four years ago, with valor
that we could not overcome,and who meet
us here tonight with loving welcome so
dear to us and to our people. Not only
do we cherish the sentiments so nobly ex-
pressed, so warm and true from the hearts
of our brethren of the north but, re-
membering the avocation and profession
of the gifted speakers, we hear in loud
tones the voice of the great American
press-that power mightier than armies or
navies; mightier than the sword; mightier
than the sceptres of kings, on whose sup
porting arm the goddess of Liberty leans,
and whose daily utterances proclaim that
peace, friendship and love once more bind
the American people with the golden
bands of indissoluble and perpetual union.
Yes, my countrymen, the press and the
brave and generous soldiers of our land
have brought this night and these scenes
to pass. All honor and love to both!"
Among other sentences uttered by Col.
Aylett were these: 81 utter it as a SEN
timent that comes swelling up from every
bosom of Virginia and the south; that
the man who would rekindle again that
feeling which filled our land with
death and tears, and grief
and mourning, with graves and
with suffering, is not only un-
worthy of the high title of being an
American citizen, not even of that of a
human being, and should find no home
or friend on earth or in heaven. There
is not true man at the south to-day but
who feels as if he would like to stand at the
tombs of Lincoln and Grant to plant a
flower there, and to water it with a
manly tear. In the presence of feeling
like this - too sacred and deep
for utterance - what matters il
who shall keep the battle flags? They
passed into your hands in brave and
manly combat, untouched by dishonor af
ter baptism in blood that made the grey
jacket mantle of glory. We are willing
your people should keep theirs as well as
ours. They are IN the hands of our gov
eminent and of brethren to whom oul
honor should be as dear as their own
Never again will our battle flags wav'
in strife. They have gone down forever
but they went down in glory and in honor
They are dead, and we love and follow
alone now the living flag which float
from Key West to Behring's straits; from
Bunker hill to San Francisco"
OTHER SPEECHES.
Speeches were also made by Gen. w. F
, (Baldy) Smith, Gen. Isaac p. Wister, Col
John II. Taggert and others for thu
"Blue," and Col. Charles L. Lohn, secre
tary OF Pickett's division, Col. IF .Crocker
Col. Robert M. Strickling, DR.. j. A. Mar
shall, Col. Tinoleum Smith, Col. Kirkott.
and others, on behalf of the "Grey."
John W. Frazier, secretary of the com
mittee of arrangements, stated that let
tiers had been received from the presiden
and his cabinet, from Senator Sherman
Governor Fitzhugh Lee, Hon. Edwin N
Fitzler, mayor of Philadelphia, Ger
Louis Wagner, Hon. Geo. W. ChildE
Geo. William Curtis, Chas. A. Dana, Ger
D. II. Hastings, adjutant general of Penn
sylvania, Gibson Peacock and others.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER
The presidents letter read as follows:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Jun
pa have received your invitation tt
attend, as a guest of the Philadelphi
brigade, a reunion of exConfederat
soldiers of Pickett's division who survive
their terrible charge at Gettysburg, an
those of the union army still liy
; ing, by whom it was heroic
ally resisted. The fraternal NEE
ing of these soldiers upon the battle
: field where, twenty-four years ago, i
deadly fray they fiercely sought eac
3; others lives; where they saw their CON
: rades fall and where all their thought
I were of vengeance and destruction, wi
I illustrate the general impulse of brav
men and their honest desire for peace an
o reconciliation. The friendly assault theI
to be made will be resistless, becaus
inspired by American chivalry, and its re
) suits will be glorious because conquere
y hearts will be its trophies of success
!, Thereafter this battle field will be cons
Grated by victory which shall presage ii
. end of bitterness of strife; the exposu
/ of the insincerity which conceals hatre
y by professions of kindness; the conden
!, nations of frenzied appeals to passion fl
o unworthy purposes, and the beating dow
of all that stands in the way of the de-
tiny of our united country. While thoi
/ who fought, and who have so much to TO
e give, lead in the pleasant ways of peace, no
: wicked appears the traffic in section
y hate and the betrayal of patriotic sent
ment! 1t surely cannot be wrong to desi
y the settled quiet which lights for OF
s. country the path to prosperity al
: greatness; nor need the lessons of the w
q be forgotten, and its results be jeopa
s died, in the wish for that genuine fri
q ternity which inspires national pride an
u u glory.
" 1 should be very glad to accept yo1
Il invitation, and to be wi
/, you at this interesting reunio
q but other arrangements, already mad
10 and my official duties here will prevel
70 my doing 30.
u Hoping that the occasion will be
o successful and as useful as it promises,
10 l am yours very truly.
~ GROVER CLEVELAND.